Sea Of Grass (29 page)

“Then he quickly started working for Telford when it was all clear. Just when did you two talk about all this?”
 

“Will you please stop with this jealously? I don’t care about Ethan Drummond,” Claire said seriously.

Tess turned to face her. “You don’t?”

“What do I have to do to assure you?”

Tess leaned closer and whispered in her ear, “A night with only you and me and waking up in my arms.”

 
“Oh, God, Tess. I want that so badly,” Claire said, looking into her eyes. “You must believe that.”

“I do. I—”

“Hey, Mom, Tess. Fireworks!” Jack called out, causing both women to jump. “C’mon, they’re starting.”

He pulled at both women, who locked gazes for the briefest of moments. They smiled and headed back to the car.

As the fireworks ended, Tess and Jed heard the whistle from the old steam engine blaring. “What’s going on?” Jed asked.

“I heard they’re starting a tour of the Bitterroots by rail. It starts in Helena and stops in
Silverhill
, then off to Three Forks and around again. It’s something the city council thought was a good idea for tourism. Get folks to come out and see the Old West,” Chuck said.

“People will pay for that?” Jed asked, scratching his head.

“Sure, folks who’ve never been out this way get a chance to see what life was like in the West,” Tess agreed thoughtfully.

Jed shook his head as he started the station wagon and waited for everyone. “Seems like a waste of money to me.”

Tess slipped into the front seat and shook her head. “No, Dad, it makes perfect sense.” She nodded and smiled. “Perfect.”

Chapter 21

Warren Telford sat in this office watching the fireworks. How appropriate, he thought as he grinned evilly.

“I’ll get you
Rawlinses
yet,” he vowed.

He turned back to his desk and leafed through the pages of Collins’s report. Claire Redmond, Long Island, New York. Son, Jack Redmond, 16. Father unknown. Lived in Portland, now Helena. Occupation: Food Service Industry. Currently working at the Double R Ranch in
Silverhill
, Montana.

“Father unknown,” he said as he continued reading. With that, there was a knock at his office door. “C’mon in.”

Ethan Drummond walked in and lazily sat in the chair by his desk. “Mr. Telford.”

“Ethan, what have you got?”

“Nothing really.”

The old man’s head shot up. “I thought you were dating Mrs. Redmond.”

Ethan shrugged and twirled his hat. “I tried. I don’t think I’m her type.”

“Then I was right. Tess Rawlins is her type.” Telford grinned wickedly and sat back in his chair. “Tess Rawlins and the cook. Ha!” He let out a laugh. “Who, by the way, has a son.”

Ethan frowned deeply, trying to avoid punching Telford dead in the face. “Mr. Telford, that is an ugly rumor,” he warned.

Telford grunted. “Who knows? It might be true. If it’s not, then let them deny it. Oh, this will be good. I wonder what Jed Rawlins would do to keep this bit of information a secret.”

“That stretch of land? The north pasture?” Ethan offered.

Those hundred acres were prime in this state. Developers had been screaming to get their hands on it. Warren Telford wanted it.

“Maybe, Ethan my boy, maybe.” Telford sighed and puffed on his cigar.

August turned out to be a dry, hot month. They had spent the time getting Claude’s cattle branded for him and getting an accurate head count. The Double R herd was all set. In two weeks, they’d be on their way. The cattle along the north pasture bathed in the Bitterroot River that flowed adjacent to the old mansion.

Tess rode Stella along the river, stopping for the horse to drink. The idea of turning the old house into a guesthouse was a sound idea. Over the past month, she had talked to other ranch owners in other states who had done the same thing, and all of them had the same thing to say—it saved their ranch.

She knew raising cattle alone would not be enough, and turning the Double R into a working ranch and guesthouse would work. As Stella lazily loped the high ridge, Tess heard a car and shielded her eyes with her hat against the hot afternoon sun. She smiled as she saw Claire driving the Jeep as far as she could.

Claire honked the horn once or twice, and Tess waved her hat, quickly riding up to the Jeep.

“What are you doing out here?” Tess looked down from atop Stella, leaning on the pommel of the saddle.

Claire swallowed hard as she gazed into her blue eyes. Tess wore a white sleeveless undershirt, her sweat-soaked denim shirt draped across the saddle in front of her. Looking farther, she noticed the leather chaps that covered a pair of old Levi’s. Tess Rawlins was a beautiful woman. Though she argued she was not, Claire Redmond knew differently.

“It’s about a hundred degrees, and I knew you wouldn’t have enough sense to get into the shade. Follow me on that beast. The men can watch the herd for a few hours.”
  

She started without waiting for a reply and drove the hilly pasture to the old house. It was a bumpy ride.

“God, you need to get a road or a path or something up here,” she groaned as she got out of the car.

Tess swung off Stella, tying her to the porch rail. She noticed Claire had a large picnic basket.

“What are we doing?” Tess followed Claire up the steps.

“You are taking a cool bath and having something to eat. I brought you a change of clothes. Everyone else has had lunch. You haven’t come back for lunch in four straight days. You’ll collapse before you get that herd to Colorado.”

She walked into the old mansion and straight to the bathroom. Running the tepid water, she called out to Tess.

“Okay, in you go.”

Tess walked into the bathroom and smiled. “You are sweet, Claire Redmond.”

“I know,” she said and kissed her chin. “Now strip.”

Tess’s eyes nearly bugged out of her head, but she obeyed. She unbuckled the leather chaps and Clair took them from her. “Shirt and jeans, they’re filthy.” She held out her hand.

“I-I’ll be naked,” Tess said.

Claire raised an eyebrow. “A bath works better that way. I’m waiting.”

Tess shrugged and stripped off her shirt and undershirt. She sat on the edge of the tub and yanked off her boots. “Stop drooling, Claire.”

“Continue.”

Tess complied and slowly unzipped the dusty jeans and pulled them down her hips. “You’re going to watch this whole thing, aren’t you?”

“Oh, yes.” Claire tossed the dirty shirts aside and walked up to Tess. “Let me help.” She gently pulled the jeans down the rest of the way. “You’re beautiful, Tess. Now get into the tub.”

Tess tried to swallow but found it impossible as she slipped into the tepid water. Claire sat on the edge of the tub and soaped up a cloth. “Lean forward. I’ll get your back.”

Tess obeyed without a word and sighed when Claire gently rubbed the cloth down her back. She pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around them. “Oh, God, Claire, that feels so good. Man, I’m sore.”

“You’re not getting any younger.”

“This I know,” Tess said dreamily.

Claire washed her back and shoulders. “Put your head back, sweetie.”

Tess whimpered and did as she was told. Claire took the old pot sitting there and poured the water over her head, then lathered her hair. “Oh, God, that feels good.”

“You said that already,” Claire said and rinsed her head. She then stood. “I think you can wash yourself the rest of the way.”

Tess ran her fingers through her wet hair and laughed. “Yes, but it won’t be as much fun.”

“Next time.” Claire kissed her shoulder. “I’ll go make lunch.”

After the cool bath, Tess dressed in fresh clothes. “Thanks, I feel much better. And I’m starved.”

Cold beef, potato salad, and lemonade rounded off the picnic lunch.

“My, that was good. Now I’m pooped. Thanks. I have to get back…”

Claire walked across and sat on Tess’s lap. “Not so fast. You’re going to rest for a while.” She got up and took Tess by the hand. She compliantly followed her down the hall.

Claire threw open the windows, allowing the warm gentle breeze to circulate through the room. Tess sat on the bed and Claire gently pushed her back against the pillows. “Join me.”

“I was hoping you’d say that,” Claire whispered and lay next to her on the big bed.

Tess let out a contented sigh as Claire cuddled up to her, nestling her head into the strong, soft shoulder. “This will be our place. What do you think? We can come here. No one will bother us. Just for the afternoon or…”

Claire shifted and loomed over her. “That was the general idea. I thought of the same thing this morning. All this time, we had this right in front of us.”

Tess smiled and reached up to stroke the soft cheek. Claire lowered her head and kissed the warm lips briefly. As she pulled back, Tess put a strong arm around her back and pulled her on top of her.

In a few short moments, tender kisses turned decidedly more passionate as Tess rolled over, taking Claire with her. Now she was on top, kissing Claire’s neck, her jaw, up to her ear where she nibbled the sensitive lobe.

“Make love to me, Tess. Please,” Claire begged.

Tess groaned and shivered at the plea in her voice and eagerly tried to unbutton her blouse. Claire chuckled at her fumbling and gently pushed her hands away and sat up. Tess blinked as she watched the woman she loved slowly unbutton the cotton blouse and slip it off her shoulders. She reached around and the white bra was next. Tess now was trying to control her breathing as she watched Claire stand and slip out of her jeans and panties.

“Oh, God, Claire, you are beautiful.” Tess moaned as she stripped her shirt off, then her bra. Claire nearly laughed at how quickly Tess got herself naked.

In a flash, Tess’s body covered Claire’s, both gasping at the virginal feel of their bodies touching intimately. Claire shifted her leg, and Tess groaned as she felt Claire’s thigh rubbing against her. If she weren’t careful, this would all end much too soon.

She shifted and lay next to Claire, partially covering her. Her kisses seared the soft flesh as she licked and nibbled every inch offered to her. Her fingers wandered over the lovely body, memorizing each curve, each line.

Claire moaned into the sensual kiss as their breasts pressed against each other, nipples aching with desire. She naturally parted her legs as Tess’s fingers moved south, reveling as the muscles in her belly quivered from her touch. “Now, Claire. I need to touch you now,” she whispered, and Claire nodded helplessly, then gasped and arched her back into the heavenly touch.

Tess loomed over Claire’s body. “Open your eyes,” she demanded. Claire’s eyes flew open. “I love you always.”

Claire’s violet eyes filled with desire, pleading for release. Claire bit at her bottom lip as she felt the strong fingers sliding through her. Her hips bucked, seeking more contact, and Tess smiled as she easily slipped two fingers in. Claire cried out as she felt Tess moving within her, loving her, controlling her body and soul.

Tess could feel the inner walls contracting around her saturated fingers as they slowly moved deeper. Claire cried out, her fingers digging into Tess’s shoulders. “Tess!” she said helplessly.